Don’t Put Away That Sunscreen Just Yet

If you ask Melissa Janoski, a medical aesthetician at Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Health Center at UPMC, she would tell you that your skin deserves as much attention in the fall as in the summer.
While the sunny days with temperatures in the 80s and 90s have diminished rapidly, it is recommended that you use at least SPF 30 titanium based sunscreen on your face every day, whether the sun is out or not. UVA rays—that cause aging and will penetrate through windows at home, work and in automobiles—are year round.

Your skin might already begin to experience dryness, especially on your face, but the fall season is the time to start preparing your skin for the winter ahead:

Drink plenty of water.

Use a humidifier at home to increase moisture levels.

Limit the use of soap to the “dirty-areas” of the body such as the armpits and groin. Water alone is usually good enough to cleanse the skin of the arms and legs without risking the drying effects of the soaps. Once you step out of the shower, quickly pat-dry your skin and apply a liberal amount of a moisturizing cream or ointment.

The Department of Dermatology at UPMC diagnoses and treats all kinds of skin diseases and dermatologic conditions. The Department offers services and information in the areas of general dermatology, medical dermatology, pediatric dermatology, dermatologic surgery, dermatopathology, cutaneous oncology, and cosmetic dermatology.
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